What will APS do to get millennials to stick around (Atlanta: wood floors, low income)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by LovelySummer

Furthermore, this is not news. People all over the country move to where schools are better if they can afford to do so or simply use the private schools (again, if they can afford to do so). Why is this even an article?

Because of all the nonsense about how all the millenials will move into the cities and stay there, ignoring issues like schools.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Atlwarrior

It's just not education that's an issue here: rent rates are too high, the state is run by willfully ignorant social conservatives, the liberals are feckless and just as corrupt as the conservatives, it takes 20+ years to get the ball rolling on any project, let alone actually complete it, and all of the places that are attractive to millenials are quickly becoming too expensive, forcing most either to the poorer neighborhoods with zero services/nightlife or to the smaller suburbs.

For instance, the new MARTA line from Avondale to Lindbergh has an estimated completion of ~2030. IE, we won't be the young generation by then.

There's a lot of awesome things about this place, but it's not hard to see why most people don't stick around.

You hit on another of these points that all the standard thinking these days misses. "rent rates are too high"
Cities are very expensive and only so many can afford it.

[Larry X]

My wife and I don't have kids yet but when we do they will go to APS. Its all about parenting, people rely to much on the school system.

[bu2]

As someone who went to 8 different schools and has had kids in 6 different schools, schools DO make a difference.

[hautemomma]

Originally Posted by Larry X

My wife and I don't have kids yet but when we do they will go to APS. Its all about parenting, people rely to much on the school system.

Come back to us and report on your decisions when you have kids who are school-aged, okay?

[Gemini_Jones]

I am a 30-year-old Millennial professional in Atlanta and personally don't consider the condition of APS schools to be a factor in home ownership at all. Actually, I don't have a single friend that even has kids. Most of my peers (colleagues, friends, etc) are either single or in committed relationships where the thought of having kids is just something on the to-do list before 40.

Yes, the majority of Millennials living in the City of Atlanta proper rent. Please remember, when a lot of us were graduating from college, the economy was headed down the toilet. My first "real job" was in advertising and I was making great money (and renting). Fast forward a few months, there were mass layoffs and I ended up on unemployment. At the time, I had friends that graduated Emory law school or had advanced degrees that ended up having to work retail because the job market in Atlanta was horrible.

I have quite a few theories on why Millennials would rather rent than own. The condition of APS is very low in the list. In order for the APS theory to hold water, I'd like to see a study on how comparable cities to Atlanta that have stronger public school systems have a higher number of Millennials owning homes.

Again, the majority of Millennials are waiting much later in life to have kids than previous generations.

I am just now at a point in life where I feel comfortable enough to buy a home. I am looking at intown condos and townhomes. I don't want a single family home or the maintenance.

A bigger issue to me is that there aren't enough multifamily developments in Atlanta for purchase that are affordable to buy. Everything "new" is a rental : Skyhouse, 12th & Midtown, Beltline apartments, etc.

Atlanta will see more Millennials purchasing when the apartment conversions to condos happen. Millennials will buy up the Skyhouses and the like. Also, the prices need to be average around the $200k to $350k mark. In my opinion, the prices at conversions like The Atlantic are too high. Everything doesn't have to be "high-end luxury." We do want at least 2 bedrooms, hardwood floors throughout and nice kitchen and baths.

If Atlanta wants to attract more young homeowners, build more "affordable" homes for purchase and less apartments.

[Tryska]

Originally Posted by Gemini_Jones

I am a 30-year-old Millennial professional in Atlanta and personally don't consider the condition of APS schools to be a factor in home ownership at all. Actually, I don't have a single friend that even has kids. Most of my peers (colleagues, friends, etc) are either single or in committed relationships where the thought of having kids is just something on the to-do list before 40.

Yes, the majority of Millennials living in the City of Atlanta proper rent. Please remember, when a lot of us were graduating from college, the economy was headed down the toilet. My first "real job" was in advertising and I was making great money (and renting). Fast forward a few months, there were mass layoffs and I ended up on unemployment. At the time, I had friends that graduated Emory law school or had advanced degrees that ended up having to work retail because the job market in Atlanta was horrible.

I have quite a few theories on why Millennials would rather rent than own. The condition of APS is very low in the list. In order for the APS theory to hold water, I'd like to see a study on how comparable cities to Atlanta that have stronger public school systems have a higher number of Millennials owning homes.

Again, the majority of Millennials are waiting much later in life to have kids than previous generations.

I am just now at a point in life where I feel comfortable enough to buy a home. I am looking at intown condos and townhomes. I don't want a single family home or the maintenance.

A bigger issue to me is that there aren't enough multifamily developments in Atlanta for purchase that are affordable to buy. Everything "new" is a rental : Skyhouse, 12th & Midtown, Beltline apartments, etc.

Atlanta will see more Millennials purchasing when the apartment conversions to condos happen. Millennials will buy up the Skyhouses and the like. Also, the prices need to be average around the $200k to $350k mark. In my opinion, the prices at conversions like The Atlantic are too high. Everything doesn't have to be "high-end luxury." We do want at least 2 bedrooms, hardwood floors throughout and nice kitchen and baths.

If Atlanta wants to attract more young homeowners, build more "affordable" homes for purchase and less apartments.

Thanks for this.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by Gemini_Jones

If Atlanta wants to attract more young homeowners, build more "affordable" homes for purchase and less apartments.

Good luck doing that in the high-demand areas on the east side of town.

[space cadet]

Originally Posted by hautemomma

Yeah, cause if you're gonna roll the dice in anything life, place bets on your kids. LOL

Yes, let's run, not walk to the closest perfect school district. Abandon hope immediately! Please do not commit to improving or investing in your community. All hail the almighty Greatschools.org rating system.

[Gemini_Jones]

The real reason why so many apartment developments are going up around Atlanta is because developers can't get construction loans on condos for purchase. That's the dirty secret you won't hear. Due to the great condo bust that happened in many major cities around the US, the government won't approve FHA financing on condo developments that include a certain percentage of retail. That means if a condo development has an attached grocer, dry cleaner or restaurant, no FHA financing for buyers wanting to purchase. Please note that all Skyhouse, Beltline and Intown "luxury apartment" developments include retail components. Read more about this here: Why financing is still difficult for luxury condo buyers - Atlanta Business Chronicle

The government and market will eventually catch up.